Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Dad's Day Out @ the Library!

To honor and celebrate Father’s Day 2010, the Peters Township Public Library will offer a day-long event for fathers and their children at the library on Saturday, June 19 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“Dad’s Day Out” is a special day to celebrate all things about dad. Events planned include a comedy dads’ movie marathon, father-son-daughter storytime, duct tape craft projects, and a Fathers vs. Kids Wii Tournament. There will also be an “Ugly Tie Contest”, so patrons are encouraged to wear their most hideous tie to win a prize! During the event, dads can also learn about the many resources available at the library to make their lives easier – free WiFi, study rooms, Consumer Reports online, Mango Languages and more. Refreshments will be available. Fathers and their children are encouraged to stop in at any time throughout the day.

Raffle tickets will be sold to win a framed, autographed Pittsburgh Penguins sweatshirt, which will be on display. Players who signed the shirt include: Matt Cooke, Sydney Crosby, Ruslan Fedotenko, Eric Godard, Alex Goligoski, Kris Letang, Sergei Gonchar, Jay McKee, Marc Andre Fleury, Craig Adams, and Jordon Staal. Tickets are $2 each and are currently available in the Children’s Department, the Young Adult Department and the circulation desk. The drawing for the shirt will be held on Tuesday, July 6. Proceeds from the raffle will benefit the library, and you need not be present at the drawing to win.

To attend the “Dad’s Day Out” program, please call the Children's Department at 724.941.9430 or email the library.

Summer Series of Gardening Workshops

A new series of summer gardening workshops will be offered at the Peters Township Public Library, hosted by the library’s GO Green Club. The presenter for the series will be Candy S. DeBerry, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Biology at Washington and Jefferson College.

The series will feature three different programs:
Greening Your Garden on Thursday, June 17 at 7:00 p.m.
Rain gardens, grasscycling, native plants, xeriscaping, ecological landscaping... all these are ways to make your yard a healthier place, both for you and the environment. This workshop will explore the damaging effects of conventional gardening and landscaping practices, and offer alternative practices for "greening" your lawn and garden.

Native Plants in the Garden and Landscape on Thursday, July 29 at 7:00 p.m.
Native plants are one of the hottest trends in gardening and landscaping. Why? Because growing native plants can reduce maintenance and water usage, saving time and money; reduce air, water, and noise pollution; increase biodiversity and create wildlife habitat; and increase property values. This workshop will introduce you to beautiful and landscape-friendly trees, shrubs, vines, grasses, and perennials, all native to Southwest Pennsylvania.

Dealing with Problems in the Green Garden on Thursday, August 26 at 7:00 p.m."How do I identify and remove invasive plants? What pesticides are safest to use? How do I keep raccoons, deer, rabbits, voles and other wild creatures from damaging my garden?" If you've asked yourself these or similar questions, you need to come to this workshop to learn the answers!

Register for any or all of these three programs by emailing the library or call 724-941-9430.

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Giant Oaks Garden Club Plant Sale TODAY!

Stop by the library today until 1 p.m. for the Annual Plant Sale by the Giant Oaks Garden Club - beautiful plants at fabulous prices! This event is one of many fundraisers the club conducts as a means to raise money to support many local projects and community organizations, including the library. All of the plants offered for sale are grown by club members. PLUS the club has set up a flea market in the first floor meeting room with many unique items for sale! Hurry in - the sale is only until 1 p.m. today and things are selling quickly!

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Composting 101 Workshop

Ever had questions about composting? What goes in it? Does it have an unpleasant odor? Where should it go? How does it work? What’s the point? The Peters Township Public Library GO Green Club is hosting an educational workshop on composting given by local resident and composter, Angie Phares. The workshop will be held on Saturday, June 12 from 10 to 11:00 a.m. at the library. Register for this free program at the library’s circulation desk, call 724.941.9430 or register online.

Mrs. Phares has lived in the area for 5 years and has recently completed the coursework for the Washington County Master Gardener program. She and her family have been composting for several years and are amazed at how much can go in the compost bin! Register for the program to learn more about this time-honored practice for improving soil structure and increasing soil fertility.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Author Visit: Carmen Stenholm

Join us on Saturday, May 15 at 11:00 a.m. as we welcome local resident and author Dr. Carmen Stenholm. Dr. Stenholm has recently published Crack Between the Worlds, a work of historical fiction based on the challenging lives of her great-grandmother, grandmother and mother. She will discuss the use of writing as a method of creative expression and as a tool for inner growth and evolution. She will also have copies of her book available for purchase. Register at the circulation desk or call 724.941.9430.

Friday, May 7, 2010

Enrolling for Social Security Benefits and Online Services

This year, the Social Security Administration is celebrating the 75th anniversary of providing high quality, personal service to the American public. On Thursday, May 13 from 7:00-8:30 p.m., a representative from the Social Security Administration will provide information about applying for Social Security benefits as well as information about what can be accomplished at Social Security Online, the official website of the U.S. Social Security Administration.

The Social Security representative will discuss Retirement benefits, Disability benefits, Survivor benefits and Medicare. Attendees will learn about the features of Social Security Online, the advantages of using this website and some helpful navigation tips. There will be a question and answer session after the program. Information packages will be available. Register at the library's circulation desk or call 724.941.9430.